Despite the opinions of many, the Pittsburgh Penguins absolutely need to retain their first round selection.

The mandate from Fenway Sports Group upon purchasing the Pittsburgh Penguins is win now, rebuild later. It's a requirement when you have Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang on your roster performing at a high level. What is the point in blowing it up and rebuilding it now, anyway? Because of that, many are calling for the Penguins to trade their first round pick in the upcoming draft for some immediate roster help. It's a totally fine idea, but unless the return is undeniable, there is no reason to trade their highest draft pick in over a decade. 

Deep Draft Class

One of the biggest reasons the Penguins must keep their draft pick is the depth of the incoming rookie class. Last year's draft featured only two first round picks who appeared in NHL games, and both struggled. It was a talented pool, but it was a group of prospects that needed further seasoning in juniors, Europe, or in the NCAA. This is highlighted best by the Penguins own selection in the 2022 draft: Owen Pickering. The 6'4 defenseman is a long-term project but incredibly gifted player. With maturation and time, he will be a top four defenseman for the Penguins organization. The question is simply, how much time? 

The 2023 draft class by contrast, is quite the improvement. There are three to five prospects that scouts and analysts believe could see NHL action this upcoming season, and there is NHL talent riddled throughout the first 40 skaters and goalies available. The Penguins have a golden opportunity to not only select the most talented prospect to enter their organization in more than 10 years, but to find a player that could contribute within the next two seasons. There's never a guarantee with the draft, but the Penguins would be wise to wait and see how the board falls on draft night. 

Flexibility Entering Free Agency

Not only are the Penguins staring down their first lottery pick since 2012, they are also weeks away from having more than $20 million in cap space. The new management team must comb through a long list of the team's free agents to discuss contracts with, and some of that money may be eaten up. Even so, veteran names like Brian Dumoulin, Jason Zucker, Tristan Jarry, Danton Heinen, and Nick Bonino are all slated to hit free agency. With younger players like Ryan Poehling, Ty Smith, and Drew O'Connor also becoming restricted free agents, it's unlikely that any of the veteran free agents return. 

If the Penguins were to trade the 14th overall pick for a roster player, they would be sacrificing a huge portion of their offseason cap space. In a league riddled with horrible contracts and overpaid players, cap space has become a prized asset in the NHL. Teams pay a premium to utilize opposing team's cap space, and the next management team needs to understand that. The Penguins have been in habitual salary cap hell since their cup runs in 2016 and 2017, and this offseason provides them with the best chance to break free of that while also adding a young player to their organization. It's a no-brainer. 

Building a Winner

The Penguins want to win now, and hanging onto their first round pick benefits that. Keeping and using the 14th pick to select a quality player is a championship building move. Championship teams build through the draft. They receive impact production from young players on rookie contracts. The Penguins 2009 Stanley Cup team was one of the youngest championship teams in the salary cap era. They were again swimming in young talent during their back-to-back cup runs.

The Tampa Bay Lightning received an influx of players from their AHL affiliate during their three straight final appearances and watched several players graduate to expanded roles. Current teams in the playoffs are continuing the trend, with the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Dallas both dressing 10 of their own draft picks and the Toronto Maple Leafs dressing eight. And the list goes on and on. It's no coincidence, the more you build through the draft, the better chances you have to build a winner around those players. 

The urge to trade the 14th pick is tempting, and understandably so. It feels like the Penguins could be right back in the playoff picture with a the right move or two. Hopefully that is the case, but it can't come at the expense of mortgaging the future anymore. That time has passed. The only way for the Penguins to continue to build a championship team again is by finally investing again their youth. It starts with pick 14 in the 2023 draft. 

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